Page:History of Delaware County (1856).djvu/184

160 HISTORY OF rich, to meet him and settle the -affront according to the ^code of honor/ which challenge was accepted/^ The meeting of the parties, accompanied by their seconds, took place in the field belonging to Isaac Townsend, about a mile above the village of Walton. The field was at the time but partially cleared. It will now attract the attention of the traveller as a spot of surpassing beauty. " The pistols were presented to the combatants, who ex- changed the first shots without effect. At the second dis- charge, Goodrich threw up his pistol, gave a shriek of agony, and fell heavily to the ground, appearing to be mortally wounded. Tanner immediately left the field, apparently un- noticed, as they were all gathered around the dying man. Reaching his boarding place* in great agitation, he requested the woman in much haste to give him his clothes, saying, ^ that he must leave the country as soon as soon as possible, having shot Mr. Groodrich in a duel.^ He took his bundle of clothes, and crossing the river, disappeared in the woods, on the opposite side ; since which time he has not been heard -from, and if living, still doubtless carries the impression of having shot a man in a duel.'^ By a previous arrangement between Goodrich and the seconds. Tanner^ s pistol was only loaded with powder, while Goodrich's, to render the deception still more complete, was loaded with a ball, which, for effect, he shot in a tree near by where his opponent was standing. Of course his appearing to be wounded was only a pretension. The field where the duel was fought, has since, in com- memoration of the event, received the memorable name of ^^Hoboken Lot,'^ which name it still retains. ' Many of the pioneers who emigrated to the western sections of Delaware county, came by the way of Minisink, which, as ^ He was boarding at the house of the father of my informant.